Segmental container and package



June 14, 1966 A. H. TROUTMAN 3,255,378

SEGMENTAL CONTAINER AND PACKAGE Filed Sept. 6. 1963 fljbfsrfh. Trouiman INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,255,878 SEGMENTAL CONTAINER AND PACKAGE Albert H. Troutman, Banks, Oreg., assignor to Georgia- Pacitic (Iorporation, Portland, Greg, a corporation of Georgia Filed Sept. 6, 1963, Ser. No. 367,160 6 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) This invention relates to a container formed in segments; to a package including the container; and to a method of packaging in which the container is used.

The invention pertains particularly to containers for use in packaging stacks of lumber and is described herein with particular reference to such an application. No limitation is intended thereby, however, since the container also is applicable to the packaging of diverse other large work units.

In the transportation and storage of lumber, it has become commercial practice to wrap lumber stacks with paper, corrugated fiberboard or other container material, forming a package in which the lumber is protected from physical damage and weathering. In the construction of such packages, a problem is presented in that lumber is sold commercially in various widths and lengths. As a result, it is necessary to supply the containers in which the lumber is to be packaged in assorted lengths and widths corresponding to the dimensions of each lumber stack to be packaged. This, in turn, requires maintaining a substantial inventory of containers of various sizes.

It accordingly is the general purpose of the present invention to provide a container for packaging lumber which, though of fixed size, readily may be adapted to packaging lumber stacks of any length and various widths.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention are the provision of a container for use in packaging lumber stacks and other bulky work units, which container:

(1) may be supplied in a single size and shipped and stored flat for space economy;

(2) gives maximum coverage at minimum cost;

(3) is readily applied to the work unit;

(4) is Water resistant and accordingly may be used to construct lumber packages suitable for open rail shipment;

(5) may be applied using various packaging materials;

(6) creates a package easily handled by conventional methods;

(7) may be applied in conventional sawmill operation without serious modification of the production system.

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects of this invention are accomplished will be apparent from the accompanying specification and claims considered together with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one segment of the herein described segmental container in a partly folded condition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the container segment in a more advanced condition of folding;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary detail sectional views taken along lines 33 and 44 of FIG. 2, illustrating the marginal construction of the container segment of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a finished package illustrating the application of the container segments of FIGS. 1 and 2 to the construction of a package of a first width;

' one end of the package being partly broken away to show its stacked lumber contents and FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5, but illustrating the application of the container segment of FIGS. 1 and 2 to the construction of a package of second width.

As indicated above, the container of my invention is applicable particularly to the packaging of stacked lumber. It may be applied, for example, to the packaging of commercial stacks of 2 X 6s, 2 X 8s, 2 X 10s and 2 it 12s having lengths of from 8-26 feet in two-foot intervals. It is applicable equally, of course, to lumber of other sizes, as well as to other bulky work units which can be arranged in a rectangular stack.

The work unit illustrated in FIG. 5 comprises a stack of lumber 10, packaged ina container comprising a central segment indicated generally at 12, and two identical end segments indicated generally at 14, 16, respectively.

The central segment 12 may comprise a sheet of heavy paper in which the stack is wrapped or, as illustrated, a sheet of corrugated fiberboard shorter than the stack and covering the top and two sides of its central portion only. It underlies the two end segments, there-by forming a continuous covering over the stack' The construction of end segments 14 and 16 and their manner of formation are illustrated in detail in FIGS. 1-4, inclusive.

Each segment comprises a rectangular sheet of container material, such as corrugated fiberboard of the usual gauge. To facilitate its folding into the desired form, the sheet may be prescored along the ends, sides, and corners.

Since the segment overlies the end portions only of the stack, it accommodates itself to a stack of any length.

Accordingly but a single score line 18 may be cut across the sheet substantially parallel to its end edges. It defines an end section 20 of sufi icient extent to cover the end of the stack substantially completely. It also defines a top section 22 which overlies the top of the stack a predetermined distance, sufiiciently to overlap the ends of central segment 12.

Where the container material is made of corrugated fiberboard, it is desirable to make provision against entry of rainwater into the openings of the corrugations at the cut ends of the sheet. Accordingly the sheet is marked with score lines 24, 26. These define areas 28, 30, respectively, which may be reversely bent, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, to produce continuous edges sealed against the entry of moisture. Also, the double layer thus produced stiffens the' container and strengthens it against tearing.

To accommodate a sheet of single dimension to work units of varying width, there may be provided on each side of the sheet a plurality of spaced score lines running substantially parallel to the side edges of the sheet. The spacing between the score lines is determined by the widths of the work units to be accommodated.

In the illustrated form of the invention, there are two spaced side score lines on each side. Score lines 32, 34 define the left hand side section 36 of the package. Side score lines 38, 49 on the other side define the right hand side section 42 of the container. The span of side faces 36, 42 obviously will be determined upon which of the respective side score lines is broken during construction of the package.

To facilitate folding of the sheet into the container, there also are provided corner score lines which substantially bisect the angles formed at the intersections of end score line 18 and side score lines 32, 34, 38, 40.

Thus, on the left side of the container there are cut angled corner score lines 44, 46, connecting, respectively with side score lines 32, 34 and forming corner container sections 48, 50, respectively.

Similarly, on the right hand side of the container there are provided angled corner side lines 52, 54 connecting, respectively, with side score lines 38, 4t and defining corner sections 56, 58 of the container.

In use, central container segment 12 first is applied to the stack. End segment 14 is folded along score lines 24, 26 to produce the reversely folded sections 28, 30. The end segment then is placed across the end of the stack, with score line 18 registering with the edge of the stack and top section 22 overlying both the top of the stack and the end of central segment 12.

The sheet then is broken along scoreline 18 by pressing downwardly on its projecting end, using the stack itself as a breaking form. This forms and locates end section 20.

The appropriate ones of side score lines 32, 34, 38, then are broken over the registering side edges of the stack. In this regard, it will be apparent that where there are two pairs of side score lines, one on each side, the container may be produced in three widths.

Thus, by breaking the sheet along outer score lines 32, 40, a container of maximum width may be produced. This is illustrated in FIG. 5.

However, by breaking the sheet along inner score lines 34, 38, a container of minimum width, not illustrated, may be produced.

Then by breaking the sheet along one of the outer and one of the inner score lines, e.g., outer score line 32 and inner score line 38, a container of intermediate width may be produced. Such a container is illustrated in FIG. 6.

The sheet, broken along the end score line and selected side score lines, is folded down around the end of stack .10, contemporaneously breaking the appropriate ones of corner score lines 44, 46, or 52, 54. The resulting angular corner sections 48, and 56, 58 then form reverse folds which are tucked beneath side portions 36, 42, respectively, of the container.

In the alternative, Where a lumber stack or other work unit of fixed and standard size is to be packaged, the sheets comprising the end segments of the container may be provided in an unscored condition. them across the ends of the Work unit and breaking them about the edges thereof, a folded container end segment of the structure described above may be produced. However, where a stiff packaging material is employed, scoring significantly increases the ease with which this result may be accomplished.

Appropriate fastening or securing means are employed to hold end segments 14, 16 in their folded condition and to integrate the three segments of the container into a continuous protective covering. Various securing means may be used for this purpose.

In the drawings, metal straps are wrapped around both ends of the package holding down the folds of the container, as well as confining the packaged Work unit.

In the alternative, especially where the work unit has been prestrapped before packaging, or where strapping is not necessary to hold its components in stacked relation,

the folds of the end segments of the container may be held together by stapling them, by gluing them together, or by other suitable means.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the Merely by placing (b) the sheet having an end-margin folded along a score line substantially parallel to the end edges of the sheet and dimensioned to cover the end surface of the unit,

(c) the sheet having also a pair of opposite side margins folded along score lines substantially parallel to the side edges of the sheet and dimensioned to cover part of the length of the side surfaces of the unit,

(d) there being resulting inwardly tucked angular corner sections of portions of the material reversely folded along angular corner score lines substantially bisecting the angles formed at the points of intersection of the end and side score lines,

(e) the folded end and side margins of the sheet being adapted to be secured in container-forming relation to the end portions of the unit.

2. The container of claim 1 including a center segment of container material dimensioned to cover the central portion of the unit, the ends of the center segment underlying the end segments.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein each segment comprises a sheet of corrugated fiberboard board, and wherein the ends of the sheet are reversely folded to seal them off against the entrance of moisture into the open corrugations of the container board.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein the score lines comprise a single end score line along the end margin;

multiple, spaced, parallel side score lines along each of the side margins, and spaced parallel, angular corner score lines substantially bisecting the angles formed at the points of intersection of the end and side score lines.

5. Apackage comprising:

(a) a work unit to be packaged,

(b) superimposed upon the unit a segmental container comprising (c) a pair of end segments each comprising a rectangular sheet of foldable container material dimensioned to cover the end portions only of the unit,

(d) the sheet having an end margin folded along a score line substantially parallel to the end edges of the sheet and dimensioned to cover the end surface of the unit,

(6) the sheet having also a pair of opposite side margins folded along score lines substantially parallel to the side edges of the sheet and dimensioned to cover part of the length of the side surfaces of the unit,

(f) there being resulting inwardly tucked angular corner sections of portions of the material reversely folded along angular corner score lines substantially bisecting the angles formed at the points of intersection of the end and side score lines,

(g) the folded end and side margins of the sheet being adapted to be secured in container-forming relation to the end portions of the unit,

(h) and securing means for securing the folded margins of the sheet to each other and the folded sheet to the unit to be packaged.

6. A lumber package comprising a rectangular stack of lumber,

(a) a segmental container comprised of a central segment and two overlying end segments,

(b) each end segment comprising (0) a rectangular sheet of corrugated fiberboard dimensioned to cover the end portions only of the stack,

((1) the sheet having an end margin folded along a.

score line substantially parallel to the end edges of the sheet and dimensioned to cover the end surface of the stack,

(e) the sheet having a pair of opposite side margins folded along selected ones of score lines substantially parallel to the side edges of the sheet and dimensioned to cover part of the side surfaces of the stack,

(f) there being resulting inwardly tucked angular corner sections of portions of the material reversely folded along angular corner score lines substantially bisecting the angles formed at the points of intersection of the end and side score lines,

(g) the ends of the sheet being reversely folded to seal off the corrugations against the entrance of water,

('11) and strap means Wrapped about the folds of the end segments and about the stack for securing together the elements of the package.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/ 1923 Bruce 20646 9/1926 Denison 20660 11/1927 Evans 206--60 8/1950 Stewart 20646 12/1952 Schaller 206-60 8/1956 Wall 20660 X FOREIGN PATENTS 3/1926 Great Britain.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primmy Examiner. 

6. A LUMBER PACKAGE COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR STACK OF LUMBER, (A) A SEGMENTAL CONTAINER COMPRISED OF A CENTRAL SEGMENT AND TWO OVERLYING END SEGMENTS, (B) EACH END SEGMENT COMPRISING (C) A RECTANGULAR SHEET OF CORRUGATED FIBERBOARD DIMENSIONED TO COVER THE END PORTIONS ONLY OF THE STACK, (D) THE SHEET HAVING AN END MARGIN FOLDED ALONG A SCORE LINE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE END EDGES OF THE SHEET AND DIMENSIONED TO COVER THE END SURFACE OF THE STACK, (E) THE SHEET HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSITE SIDE MARGINS FOLDED ALONG SELECTED ONES OF SCORE LINES SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE SIDE EDGES OF THE SHEET AND DIMENSIONED TO COVER PART OF THE SIDE SURFACES OF THE STACK, (F) THERE BEING RESULTING INWARDLY TUCKED ANGULAR CORNER SECTIONS OF PORTIONS OF THE MATERIAL REVERSELY FOLDED ALONG ANGULAR CORNER SCORE LINES SUBSTANTIALLY BISECTING THE ANGLES FORMED AT THE POINTS OF INTERSECTION OF THE END AND SIDE SCORE LINES, (G) THE END OF THE SHEET BEING REVERSELY FOLDED TO SEAL OFF THE CORRUGATIONS AGAINST THE ENTRANCE OF WATER, (H) AND STRAP MEANS WRAPPED ABOUT THE FOLDS OF THE END SEGMENTS AND ABOUT THE STACK FOR SECURING TOGETHER THE ELEMENTS OF THE PACKAGE. 